Todoist vs Things 3
Manas Takalpati
Founder, Blue Orchid
Builds AI systems and agents for solo operators and teams. Named a 2023 Poets&Quants Best & Brightest Business Major (UNC Kenan-Flagler).
TL;DR
<a href="/tools/todoist">Todoist</a> for cross-platform, natural language input, and collaboration. Things 3 for Apple ecosystem, beautiful design, and one-time pricing. if you use Windows or Android at all, Todoist. if you're Apple-only and want the prettiest task manager ever made, Things 3.
Todoist works everywhere and has natural language input. Things 3 has the most beautiful design in any task app and a one-time purchase price. Todoist for cross-platform users and teams. Things 3 for Apple-only users who want the best-designed task manager.
Todoist
from $4/mo, free tier
Things 3
from $50/mo
Platform availability
Todoist
wins- Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, browser extensions
- Works everywhere. Switch between devices without friction
- Browser extension captures tasks from any webpage
Things 3
- Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch only
- No web app, no Windows, no Android
- Only for people fully committed to Apple
Design and UX
Todoist
- Clean and functional. Good design but not remarkable
- Consistent across platforms
- Gets the job done without getting in the way
Things 3
wins- Arguably the best-designed productivity app on any platform
- Feels native to Apple. Smooth animations, intuitive gestures
- The design makes you want to use it, which matters for habit formation
Task capture
Todoist
wins- Natural language input: 'meeting tuesday 3pm p1 #work' creates a full task
- Quick add from anywhere with keyboard shortcut
- Email forwarding turns emails into tasks automatically
Things 3
- Quick entry is fast but requires more taps/clicks
- No natural language parsing for dates and projects
- Keyboard shortcut for quick entry on Mac is good
Organization · tie
Todoist
- Projects, sections, labels, priorities, and custom filters
- Flexible filtering system creates custom views
- Supports both GTD and simple list approaches
Things 3
- Areas (life categories) and Projects. Clean hierarchy
- Headings within projects for sub-grouping
- Today, Upcoming, Anytime, Someday views built-in
Pricing
Todoist
- Free tier with 5 projects
- $4/month for Pro (billed yearly)
- Recurring subscription adds up over time
Things 3
wins- One-time purchase: $50 Mac, $10 iPhone, $20 iPad
- No subscription. Pay once, use forever
- Total ~$80 once vs $48/year for Todoist
Collaboration
Todoist
wins- Shared projects with assignees and comments
- Team workspaces on Business plan
- Built for both personal and team use
Things 3
- No collaboration features at all
- Strictly personal task management
- If you need sharing, Things 3 isn't an option
The verdict
Todoist is the more practical choice for most people. it works everywhere, has the best task capture, and supports collaboration. Things 3 is the more delightful choice for Apple users. The design genuinely makes you want to manage your tasks, which is half the battle. if you're Apple-only and work solo, Things 3 is worth the $80. otherwise, Todoist.
Which one to pick
Choose Todoist if
- You use Windows, Android, or any non-Apple devices
- Natural language task capture is important to you
- You need collaboration or shared projects
- You want a generous free tier to start with
Choose Things 3 if
- You're fully in the Apple ecosystem (Mac + iPhone)
- Beautiful design motivates you to use your tools
- You prefer a one-time purchase over subscriptions
- You only need personal task management (no sharing)
Frequently Asked Questions
Todoist for cross-platform use, collaboration, and natural language input. Things 3 for Apple-only users who want the best-designed task app. Both are excellent. The choice depends on your platform and whether you need sharing features.
If you're Apple-only and use it daily, yes. You'll recoup the cost vs Todoist's $4/month subscription in about a year, and Things 3 has no ongoing costs. The design quality motivates consistent use, which is the hardest part of task management.
No. Things 3 is exclusively available on Apple platforms. Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. There's no web app, no Windows version, and no Android version. If you use any non-Apple devices, Todoist is your best option.
Get the next guide
New guides, office-hours invites, and early resource drops in your inbox.
Work with us
Want help turning this into a real system?
Book time with us if you want to build an AI operating layer, discuss agents, or explore a partner project.